“I learned from my predecessors, man,” Bryant said Tuesday. “Pippen had a (messed) up back taking charges. Bird had a (messed) up back taking charges.

“I said, `I’m not taking charges.’ I figured that (stuff) out at an early age.”

With Kobe, you know he is speaking honestly when his conversation is littered with words we need to replace with euphemisms in parenthesis on this site. He went on to say he saw Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson only take one charge each.

That quote is pretty much a Rorschach test for what you think about Kobe. If you can’t stand him you think what he said selfish and fitting with his me-first not team-first personality. If you are a Kobe fan you think that’s just smart — guys who carry the team should not be risking injury standing in front of LeBron James waiting to get run over.

I’ll say this — plenty of guys feel the way Kobe does but wouldn’t say it.

I would argue that T.D. has been more successful with less talent and offers a more complete overall game. He is certainly the best power forward of all time.

While Kobe is my personal favorite player, he has had Shaq for 4 of them and the Pau/Bynum for the other 1. I give him a lot of credit for the last 1.

I think it’s actually a very good comparison. While the average viewer would say “wow Kobe just scored 40 points” the real basketball would see “with taking 30 shots.” He is a scorer and one of the best ever. However as a champion – I think TD had been more integral to his 4 rings.

Tim Duncan is boring, fundamental, and soft spoken. So he’s never going to be the ‘shiny object’ Kobe is.

I actually kind of put that to get a rouse but that is a great assessment. Funny thing is if you look at all their accolades Tim Duncan is one ring short of being nearly on the same level as Kobe. Yeah he is getting older but someone just dropped 26 points in game 1.

My question to you is this. Have you ever played organized basketball? Well, I have and I didn’t take then either. Most of the time you don’t even get the call, and for your efforts, you usually get a nice bruise on your chest, or a knee in the stomach, or groin, etc, etc… When Kobe’s career is over, he will be happy he didn’t take charges.

last I heard they were trying to work things out… but the divorce proceedings were still moving forward. Regardless, that is one thing you can’t say Kobe has going for him. Even those who like him can’t argue that he cheated on her, several times.

@cosanostra71: It’s truly amazing that we, Man, are not monogomist by nature, but some of us make a big deal out of a man “Cheating” on his wife. This happens all the time. Except for the men on this site. They are all monogamist, I suppose….lol, either that or they’re ugly as an old lady’s ass, and therefore can’t get no azz anyway,…lol

Why would Laker fan be embarrassed? Are you serious? There are many star players that don’t typically take charges. I wouldn’t either, if I was the top scorer on my team. That’s the role of lessor players. Don’t get it twisted. Every player has his role, and the star doesn’t typically take charges..

Kobe has earned a lot of good will and get out of jail free passes by coming up big and playing his best in big moments. LeBron would get crucified if he said this because he’s the opposite of clutch. Just look at who took the last shot for the Heat tonight……Mario Freaking Chalmers. ‘Nuff said.

I don’t blame Kobe one bit. He is paid to be the great offensive players in NBA history, not take a charge with running the risk of losing him for a long time. Kobe’s offensive output over the years has more than made up for getting probably 10-12 turnovers (10-12 is the league average of a player taking charges) had he taken charges. Kobe is no slouch on D, but it is clear that he focuses more on offense & gives about 50% on D. The fact that Kobe doesn’t put in the effort to be an elite defender is the reason why he will never be considered as good as MJ, who won a couple DPOY trophies to go along with his MVPs.

What I don’t like about this is the double standard & outcry that would take place had LeBron said the same thing. Had LeBron told the media he doesn’t take charges for fear of getting injured, all the “experts” and “pundits” would be calling him a selfish player that puts himself above the team so he can pad his stats. I’m not a Heat fan, nor am I LeBron fan, but I respect the guy probably more than any other player in the NBA. With what LeBron did this year, he has proven to the world that he is the best all around player in the NBA & is the only player on the level of Michael Jordan. I think Kobe is a great player & when he’s done, we’ll miss him tremendously, just as we did with MJ. However, LeBron is head & shoulders above Kobe when it comes to the best player in the NBA & the “Next Michael Jordan” debates. Kobe’s comments on charges just adds to Lebron’s advantage. LeBron is always taking charges & is an elite defender who gives 110% on defense. LeBron can do everything Kobe can on offense, but LJ has better court vision & passing skills; however, LeBron sets himself apart by what he does on defense. Carmelo Anthony is an elite scorer & probably one of the top 15 offensive players all time, but LeBron made him look like a high schooler in the first round. When Wade was on him, Melo went off; when LeBron was on him, Melo was shut down. Enjoy LeBron while he is still playing because it may be an extremely long time until we see another player with the all around talent & skill that LeBron has. The double standard needs to end.

Kobe’s been 1st team all NBA defense 9 times. Jordan made it 8 times. LeBron has made it 3 times //laughs//. Interesting to see guys like Kobe and Jordan set the gold standard on how to play defense without taking charges.

On a side note…. I don’t recall Kobe or Jordan ever choking 2 free throws in a playoff game to seal a loss. LeBron on the other hand…..

I get so bored with who is better arguments, but I hate seeing STUPID arguments for one side or the other. Criticizing Lebron for choking is fair. But trying to compare how many times Kobe was name 1st Team All-Defense to Lebron is an utterly lame argument considering how much longer Kobe has been in the NBA. Kobe’s 9 times are in a 15 year career. Lebron’s 3 times are in a 9 year career. If you look at history, the tendency is for the greats, once they make 1st Team All Defense, to keep making it unless they have a significant injury. Whatever his flaws are, Lebron is a big strong dude less likely to suffer major injury. So, please, save the comparisons on that kind of number until after their careers.

One thing that you can’t argue is that Kobe has spent all of his career with one of the two flagship franchises in the NBA. Thus, he has ALWAYS been surrounded by good to great talent capable of contending almost every year. By contrast, Lebron spent 7 years carrying a team of nobodies. He has now spent 2 whole seasons on a team with talent comparable to what Kobe has enjoyed almost every year for 16 years. There is a lot less pressure when you don’t have to carry a team every night.

No charges. But he sure flops all the time and spends a lot of time at the defensive end whinning at refs. He’s great, and for sure 1st ballot HOF, but he is also a poor sport and selfish ego maniac. its ok. it is what it is. I consider him one of the Top 15 players in history.

I have no problem with Kobe passing on not taking charges, he’s too valuable to get injured to stop one two point play. While Fisher was great at taking charges and not being injured it doesn’t mean everyone can be as lucky. He’s been smart to learn the lessons Pippen and Bird learned way too late, he’s smart to not let his body be trashed for some stupid game for the rest of his life. I bet he would take a charge if the situation were truly important and he knew he had the proper positioning to ensure a foul call going his way. Go Kobe!!! Go Lakers!!!!

This is why Kobe is the best in the game…and maybe the best ever. He makes no apologies…not to other players who think he’s not “black” enough…not to the league for calling out bad referees…not to the Laker ownership for making bad choices (uh…can you say “this year”)…not to anyone…for anything…ever.
And he sports this attitude all while absolutely BRINGING it on the court. Seriously…who would you rather give the ball to with 5 seconds left in a must-win situation, Kobe or LeBron.
We all know the answer is Kobe…some of you just won’t admit it.